[Canned Heat]

Was just discussing this in a PM with a fellow Wisconsinite in the stripes.

My BJ knows and sees the head of our state association in WI quite often, and it's apparently his prerogative that we should all be wearing whities unless it is raining or very cold out. This was the opinion as little as 2 weeks ago.

My honest opinion is that the white knickers can't go away fast enough, and they can take the socks with them, to boot. We'll see. I'm sure a few others from my state will sound in. Knowing that Illinois and Ohio always beat WI to the punch on everything regarding football rules, hard to say.

This from the WIAA's website here in WI;

Official's and Black Pants
The long sleeves and jacket will not be required when wearing black pants. Black pants can be worn as the rule change was intended for "foul weather" and not as a replacement for the knickers.


Standard, all-white tapered knickers shall be worn with a short overlap below the knee (not more than 4 inches).


By state association adoption, foul weather, full-length, lined black pants with a single 1¼ inch white stripe down each leg may be worn in place of the traditional knickers if worn by the entire crew. The crew chief will determine when the whole crew will wear black pants.


Black shorts are allowed if worn by the entire crew.


We discussed the black pants at the NFHS Summer Meeting. They will be adjusting the language at the next meeting which should have the word “in” before foul weather. It’s not a battle I’m going to fight, hence we removed the long sleeves or jacket requirement. If the chief determines it is foul weather and the entire crew wears black pants, then that’s what it is.


If it’s 70 and sunny, it’s credibility on the line. Hard for a coach to know that the rule, as intended, doesn’t have to be followed by the official, but the official expects my kids and me to follow the rules. With that in mind, our office is not going to get involved. It’s up to the crew chief's discretion.